Lifting the mask on mental health issues

Art created by women living with depression, anxiety and low self-confidence is being showcased in Blackburn.

The Behind the Mask exhibition features the poetry, singing and abstract art of 28 women from the town who have been working with Sharon Marsden from the Calderdale-based Verd de Gris arts company.

It takes place at Prism Gallery, Lord Street West, at 4.30pm tomorrow (Thursday, July 5).

Women from diverse cultures and backgrounds have taken part in regular creative arts sessions with Sharon since September.

The project has received Lottery funding and is supported by Blackburn with Darwen Community Restart, a joint council and health initiative to improve the wellbeing of people with mental health issues by tackling isolation.

As well as helping to improve the women’s self-esteem and confidence by allowing them to explore their feelings through poetry, singing and art, the project is also tackling the stigma around mental health issues.

Sharon said:

Most importantly, it is giving the women a voice and allowing them to be heard. It is so empowering to be heard; there is no point is saying what is important to you if you don’t think anyone is going to listen.

The private exhibition is part of University Centre Blackburn College’s annual health, psychology and counselling conference which takes place on tomorrow. Some of the women from the project will be speaking at the conference.

Sharon praised the support that the project has had from the Community Restart team and development worker Wajid Bashir.

She added:

We can deliver this amazing work but unless we have the support of the organisations we are working with, it can be a waste of time. You need people to understand the work you are doing so they can refer women.

The women’s confidence and self-esteem has really grown throughout the weeks, you can see that when they are speaking their poetry, singing and showing their art.

Tickets for the conference are available from eventbrite.